Tanzania – Mandatory Insurance & Financial Security

C26011| 30 January 2026

Notice to: Ship Owners / Managers / Operators / Surveyors

The Zanzibar Maritime Authority has issued Circular No. FSI/001/2026 which details the mandatory insurance and financial security requirements for vessels registered under the Tanzania Zanzibar International Register of Shipping (TZIRS). The Circular entered into force on 27 January 2026.

The Circular notes that all required insurance policies and/or financial security instruments must remain valid and continuously in force for the entire period the vessel is registered under the Tanzania Zanzibar Flag.

Points to Note:

Submission Requirements

All Tanzanian registered vessels are to provide valid evidence of insurance and/or financial security issued by a duly approved insurer/P&I Club to the Administration when applying for:
• Single Voyage, Provisional, Permanent, Special, and Bareboat Charter registrations; and
• The renewal of the Minimum Safe Manning Document/Certificate and the Radio Station License.

The list of approved insurance companies/P&I Clubs can be found in Circular No. FSI/06/2023 dated 06 September
2023.

Minimum required insurance/financial security evidence

The following evidence, as applicable, is to be submitted:
• All ships of 500 GT and above: Seafarer MLC financial security (Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, as amended).
• All ships of 1,000 GT and above: Bunker Oil Pollution Liability (Bunkers Convention, 2001).
• All ships of 300 GT and above: Wreck removal liability (Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks, 2007).
• All Ships carrying more than 2,000 tons of oil in bulk as cargo: Oil tanker cargo pollution liability (CLC 1992).
• Passenger liability (Athens 2002 / EU Passenger Liability Regime).

Action Requested

Existing Vessels

All existing Shipowners and Ship managers are to submit valid copies of the above insurance/financial security documentation no later than 27th February 2026 to: registration@zma.go.tz.

Owner/manager notification obligation

Shipowners and/or Ship managers are to immediately inform the Administration of any change of insurer/P&I Club, amendment, nonrenewal, suspension, or cancellation affecting any of the required insurance/financial security instruments.

Recognized Organizations

All authorized Recognized Organizations acting on behalf of the Zanzibar Maritime Authority (ZMA) or Tanzania Zanzibar International Register of Ships (ZMA) are to review all financial security certificates during all mandatory surveys. The Administration must be notified immediately if any insurance certificate is found and confirmed to be cancelled, suspended or invalid.

Non-compliance

 Vessels that do not maintain valid required insurance and/or financial security by an approved Insurer or P&I Club may be subject to immediate registry restrictions, including restrictions from sailing, suspension or revocation of the vessel’s certification, etc., until valid insurance or financial security certificates are provided to the satisfaction of the Administration.

Act now

Ship Owners/Managers/Operators/Surveyors are to take note of the contents of the Circular and be guided accordingly.